Carton-sealing and handling machine



y 27, 1952 J. D. CONTI 2,597,922

CARTON-SEALING AND HANDLING MACHINE Filed Feb. 18, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet l May 27, 1952 J. D. CONTI CARTON-SEALING AND HANDLING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 18, 1949 INVENTOR. JOHN D. CONT! May 27, 1952 J. D. CONT] CARTON-SEALING AND HANDLING MACHINE Filed Feb. 18, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 BALI IN VEN TOR. JOHN D. CONT! M y 27, 1952 J. D. CONTI 2,597,922

CARTON-SEALING AND HANDLING MACHINE Filed Feb. 18, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. JOHN D. CONT/ wm fw Patented May 27, 1952 OFFICE CARTON -SEALING AND HANDLING MACHINE John D.' ContipPhiladelphia, Pa., ass'ignor to American Viscose Corporation, Wilmington, Del.,acorporation of Delaware I Application February 18, 1949, Ser'ialNo. 77,118 8 Claims. (Cl. 216-9) This invention relates to a package-sealing and handling machine and is particularly concerned with apparatus which is adapted to deliver a carton with the flaps closed into proper position relative to a supply for a sealing strip or band adapted to overlap the adjacent edges of the top flaps at the middle of the package. It is a primary object of the present invention to provide means for centering the package with the line of juncture between the top flaps properly aligned with the dispenser for the sealing strip or tape. Another, object is to provide a mechanism which is adapted to tilt the sealed carton into an rip-ended position in readiness for conveying to the next state of operation. Further.

objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the drawing and the description thereof hereinafter.

In the drawing, which is illustrative of the invention,

Figure l is a perspective view of a conveyor system adapted to carry out the objects of the invention,

Figure 2 is an elevation looking in the direction of the arrow II of Figure 1, paneling f the machine being removed to clarify the illustration,

Figure 3 is a view partly in section looking toward the tilting mechanism in a direction opposite to that of the arrow II in Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a plan view of the carton-centering mechanism taken on line 4-4 of Figure 5,

Figure 5 is a view taken on line 5-5 of Figure 4 with the front plate 40 removed,

Figure 6 is a section of a detail taken on line 6-6 of Figure 3,

Figure 7 is a section taken on line 'l''l of Figure 2, and

Figure 8 is an elevation view of the switch mechanism.

Referring particularly to Figures 1 and 2, a carton shown in phantom outline at 3 (Figure 2) is fed by means of a belt or other type of conveyor 4 to a platform 5 having a plurality of rollers 6 projecting upwardly from the surface thereof. Two groups of such rollers are provided and they are mounted for idle rotation. The platform 5 has a central opening 1 through which the switch element 8 protrudes and through which the prongs or fingers 9 of the package or cartoncentering mechanism are adapted to project at the proper time. 7

As shown in Figure 2, the platform 5 is one leg of an L-shaped tilting carriage having another leg [9 extending at substantially right angles to the leg 5.

This tilting. carriage. is.

mounted for rotation about the shaft II from the solid-line position into the dotted-line position of Figures 1 and 2. The platform leg Ii! comprises a plurality of idler rollers l2 which project radially from the frame of the leg. As shown in Figure 1 particularly the platform 5 constitutes a receiving platform for cartons discharged from the conveyor 4, whereas after tilting of the carton, the platform leg'lll constitutes a discharge or supply platform for the conveyor belt 13 which carries the carton to the next stage of operation. The carton fed by belt '4 is disposed thereon with the line of juncture between the top flaps extending transversely of the belt and the belt deposits the carton upon the idler rollers 6 of the platform 5. As the carton is transferred from belt 4 to platform 5, it depresses the switch 8 which energizes the coil i l of' a relay having a core [5 integral with a lever l6 pivotally mounted at H and having a detent I8 which co-operates with the projection l9 of a control member 20 of a onerevolution clutch 2|. The one-revolution clutch El comprises a core member secured for rotation with a shaft 22 and a sleeve member secured for rotation with a sprocket 23 and has a control member 29 with the projection l9 which serves to engage and disengage the core member from the sleeve member.

As shown in Figures 4 and 5, release of the projection l9 causes the shaft 22 to rotate a lever 24 which is connected bya link 25 to a lever 26 which is secured to a shaft 21 for rotation therewith. Shaft 21 carries a sprocket 28 which drives a chain 29 which in turn drives a sprocket so which drives a shaft 3|. The shaft 3.! is bifurcated as shown in Figures 3, 4 and 6, and receives. a complementary projection 3Ia from a shaft 3lbwhich carries a friction clutch 3lc. This allows the centering mechanism to be driven without interfering with the tilting mechanism. The slip clutch allows the centering mechanism to slip when .the projections 9 have moved any given package to a center position in which the projections 9 tightly engage both sides of the package. .Gear 32 actuates a'rack 33 carrying one of the projections 9 and a gear Ranks. 33., and 3.i.1 are provided. with: pins 38 which ride in the grooves 39 of plates and 40' disposed on opposite sides of the rack system as shown in Figure 4. The grooves 39 have a relatively long horizontal section from which a short upwardly curved section extends at opposite ends of the groove. The upwardly curved portions serve to retract the projections 9 to a position beneath the surface of platform 5, or at least beneath the upper limits of the rollers 6 carried therein so that in their most widely spread position shown in Figure 5, the projections 9 do not interfere in any way with the passage of the carton into position upon the platform 5. When the carton depresses the switch element 8, it pulls rod 40a. which swings the lever M in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 8 against the opposition of spring 42 and closes the contacts of switch 43 by means of the button 44 which is resiliently urged into open contact position. The closing of switch 43 energizes the solenoid coil I4 and actuates the centering mechanism comprising the projections 9.

While this centering goes on, an operator pulls the adhesive tape 45 from the tape dispenser 45 which is provided with co-operating cutting a means comprising the stationary blade 47 and the swingable blade 38 actuated by the manual lever 49. This mechanism which may be operated manually or pneumatically is conventional and hence no further description is considered necessary. By the time the operator has obtained a length of the adhesive tape corresponding to the length of the box seam to be covered thereby, the carton has been centered and presented directly under the path of the tape as it proceeds the operator can, therefore, apply the tape directly to the joint on the carton. After the tape has been applied, the operator depresses a foot pedal 53c which by means of the lever 54a closes a switch 55a by depression of the button 56a. The switch 550: is in series with a solenoid 51a. and a suitable source of electric potential. Energization of coil 57a draws the core 580. downwardly and swings the lever 59a in a counterclockwise direction. The lever 59a has a detent 68a which normally engages the projection or lug Bla. of the control member 62a of the single-revolution clutch 63a, which serves to drive the tilting mechanism.

The L-shaped carriage is provided with a guiding track or rail 53 which is secured beneath the platform 6. A lever arm 54 provided with a pair of roller followers 55 which engage opposite sides ofthe rail 53, is secured to a sleeve 56 from which a short arm 51 projects and a longer arm 58 also extends. The arm 51 is pivotally linked to a connecting rod 59 extending from the strap 60 within which the eccentric 6| rotates. The eccentric 6! is fixedly mounted on a shaft 62 which has a gear 63 keyed thereto. Gear 63 is driven by gear 64 which is keyed to the shaft 6411. This shaft is driven through the one-revolution clutch 63a by means of sprocket 65a, chain 65, sprocket 66, shaft 51 and motor 68.

The arm 58 (Fig. 2) carries a counterweight 69 for balancing the tilting carriage system. The frame of the machine carries a plurality of dash pots 70 containing pistons l l, the rods-l2, of which are provided with collars l3 urged upwardlyby springs M. These elements constitute cushioning meansfor absorbing the impact of the-platform leg If) as it swings the cartons into up-ended position.

The operation sequence is briefly as follows:

As the carton is fed by belt 4 onto the platform 5, the switch member 8 is depressed. This engages the single-revolution clutch 2|, which causes the operation of the centering projection 9. While the carton is being centered, the tape is taken from the dispenser 46 and applied to the carton joint between the top flaps by the operator and as soon as he has finished, he depresses the pedal 5301. which energizes coil 51a. and causes the engagement of the single-revolution clutch 53a. This causes operation of the tilting mechanism. Since the ratio between gears 5-3 and 64 is 2:1, the single revolution of gear 64 causes a half revolution of the eccentric 6| which causes the L-shaped carriage to be tilted into the dotted line position shown in Figure 2 and the operator shifts the carton from the roller I2 onto the conveyor 13 a second pressing of pedal 53a causes a half revolution of the eccentric (H which causes the carriage to be returned into the solid-line position shown in these figures in readiness for the next carton sent to it by the conveyor t.

It will be understood that changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for handling cartons comprising a platform for supporting a carton, conveyor means for delivering a carton to the platform from one side thereof, means adjacent another side of the platform for guiding a sealing tape over a carton when such is on the platform, means carried by the platform for centering the carton with respect to one dimension of the platform, said tape-guiding means being generally centered with respect to the same dimension, and an element protruding from the platform and responsive to the passage of a carton thereover for initiating actuation of the centering means.

2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which the centering means extends across the center of the platform transversely of the direction of guiding of the tape and comprises a pair of generally parallel reciprocable racks having upwardly projecting members thereon, means for reciprocating the racks toward and away from each other, and guiding means for the racks for raising the member so that they project above the top surface of the platform as they move toward each other and for retracting the members below said platform near the end of their stroke of separation.

3. Apparatus for handling cartons comprising a carriage having two platforms extending at approximately right angles from each other for receiving a carton therebetween, means for mounting the carriage swingably about an axis extending parallel to the platforms adjacent their intersection, frame means extending oeneath the carriage and having means on each side of said axis for supporting the carriage with one of the platforms in an approximately horizontal position, conveyor means having its discharge end adjacent one of the platforms when it is in an approximately horizontal position, additional conveyor means having its receiving end adjacent the other platform when it is in an approximately horizontal position, and means associated with one of the platforms for centering the carton with respect to one dimension of the platform.

4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 3 comprising an element protruding from the platform associated with the centering means, said element being responsive to the passage of a carton thereover for initiating actuation of the centering means.

5. Apparatus in accordance with claim 4 in which the centering means comprises a pair of generally parallel reciprocable racks having upwardly projecting members thereon, means for reciprocating the racks toward and away from each other, and guiding means for the racks for raising the members so that they project above the top surface of the associated platform as they move toward each other and for retracting the members below said platform near the end of their stroke of separation.

6. Apparatus for handling cartons comprising a carriage having two platforms extending at approximately right angles from each other for receiving a carton therebetween, means for mounting the carriage swingably about an axis extending parallel to the platforms adjacent their intersection, frame means extending beneath the carriage and having means on each side of said axis for supporting the carriage with one of the platforms in an approximately horizontal position, conveyor means having its discharge end adjacent one of the platforms when it is in an approximately horizontal position, additional conveyor means having its receiving end adjacent the other platform when it is in an approximately horizontal position, means for swinging the carriage about its axis, resilient cushioning means carried by the frame means for supporting one of said platforms thereon, means spaced above one side of one of the platforms when it is supported in a horizontal position for guiding a length of sealing tape toward the carton, and means associated with the lastmentioned platform for centering the carton with respect to one dimension of the platform, said tape-guiding means being generally centered with respect to the same dimension.

7. Apparatus in accordance with claim 6 comprising an element protruding from the firstmentioned platform and responsive to the passage of a carton thereover for initiating actuation of the centering means.

8. Apparatus in accordance with claim 7 in which the centering means comprises a pair of generally parallel reciprocable racks having upwardly projecting members thereon, means for reciprocating the racks toward and away from each other, and guiding means for the racks for raising the members so that they project above the top surface of the first-mentioned platform as they move toward each other and for retracting the members below said platform near the end of their stroke of separation.

JOHN D. CONTI.

REFERENCES CETEB The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 996,386 Williams June 27, 1911 1,943,530 Hoefiieur Jan. 16, 1934 1,967,683 Ostrander July 24, 1934 1,970,749 Heichert Aug. 21, 1934 2,101,738 Gotthardt Dec. 7, 1937 2,146,893 Gotthardt Feb. 14, 1939 2,238,764 Wolf Apr. 15, 1941 2,291,280 Joplin July 28, 1942 2,426,569 Stewart Aug. 26, 1947 2,459,204 Van Vleck Jan. 18, 1949 2,483,458 Fischer et a1 Oct. 4, 1949 

